James Wesley Andreas

December 28, 1931 - April 21, 2012

Obituary

James Wesley Andreas December 28, 1931 - April 21, 2012 On Saturday, April 21, 2012, at 6:20pm, James Wesley Andreas, of Ocean Pines, Maryland, died from complications following a heart attack. He was preceded in death by his parents John David "Dave" Andreas and Emma Andreas, and brother Ensign Francis A. Andreas, USNR. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Jill Marie Andreas, and by his brother John D. Andreas, Jr. and his wife Mary, Sister Dr. Virginia Larson, brother Roger H. Andreas and his wife Joyce, and his brother-in-law Jack M. Taggart and his wife Karin. He is also survived by his two children LCDR Mark J....

James Wesley Andreas December 28, 1931 - April 21, 2012 On Saturday, April 21, 2012, at 6:20pm, James Wesley Andreas, of Ocean Pines, Maryland, died from complications following a heart attack. He was preceded in death by his parents John David "Dave" Andreas and Emma Andreas, and brother Ensign Francis A. Andreas, USNR. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Jill Marie Andreas, and by his brother John D. Andreas, Jr. and his wife Mary, Sister Dr. Virginia Larson, brother Roger H. Andreas and his wife Joyce, and his brother-in-law Jack M. Taggart and his wife Karin. He is also survived by his two children LCDR Mark J. Andreas, USN Ret., and Dr. Jennifer Andreas, and his four grandchildren, Mark J. Andreas, Jr, Austin Williamson, John W. Andreas, and Ashley Williamson. Services will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church at 8:30am to 10:30am with an 11:00am internment ceremony to follow at the North Kern Cemetery in Delano on Saturday, 28 April. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made on Jim's behalf to the Frank A Andreas Scholarship Fund, c/o Tim Denton, Treasurer, 912 High Street, Delano, CA, 93215. Jim Andreas was born at the family home outside of Delano, California, on December 28, 1931. Coming from a proud farming family, Jim worked tirelessly in school and on the farm alongside his siblings. Through elementary and high school, his scholastic and athletic abilities were demonstrated through participation in Key Club, 4-H Club, Band, and tennis. His senior superlative selection as "The Brains" of the Class of '49 was indicative of Jim's ability to apply himself and succeed. And succeed he did. The Andreas name was synonymous with the 4-H Club in the Delano area, and Jim rose to the top being selected as a County All Star. He began his college studies at Leland Stanford, Jr. University and playing tennis at the collegiate level. After fire destroyed the family residence, Jim left Stanford to help rebuild the family home. From the ashes, "the ranch" and base of operations for "J.D. Andreas & Sons" emerged. Jim returned to complete his college matriculation transferring to the University of California at Davis in order to pursue his field of study in Agricultural Economics. At UC Davis, Jim was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Zeta, Blue Key, and the California Club, and continued his successful tennis athletics by teaming with Greg Montgomery to win the doubles championship and earn a number one ranking in the Far Western Conference, predecessor to the PAC 8. Graduating with honors and receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in 1954, Jim chose to serve his country entering the United States Navy and earning a commission in the Naval Reserve as an Ensign. Completing his flight training in Florida, Jim received his "Wings of Gold" and completed tours with the VR(F)-31 "Stork Club" and the VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" flying the FJ-3 Fury and the F-8 Crusader and deploying on the USS RANDOLPH (CVA-15). It was during this time that Jim married his lifelong partner, Jill Marie Taggart, on April 28, 1962. After completing his service obligation, Jim left active duty service returning to Delano to begin his role in the family business, agriculture. And what an agro-businessman and community leader Jim was. Working alongside his father and brothers, Jim took the management role for J.D. Andreas & Sons helping the business to grow from a 300 acre operation to over 2000 acres in vineyards and field crops. Jim's leadership extended throughout out the Earlimart-Delano region serving as a member of the high school Ag Advisory Committee, and as a Delano High School District trustee, past distinguished President of the Delano Kiwanis Club supporting the Kiwanis-sponsored Key Club at DHS, and initiating the Kiwanis-sponsored Builders' Club for 7th and 8th grade students at Cecil Avenue Junior High. Jim also served as a 4-H Club leader for 15 years, Secretary of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, and Director of the Valley Production Credit Association. His service to his community was recognized in 1987 with his selection as Delano's Man of the Year and his selection as Grand Marshall for the 2003 Wine and Harvest Festival. All the while maintaining a loving home with Jill and raising their two children, Mark and Jennifer. But Jim's marketing vision and insightful leadership were not restricted to just the family and his community. Jim Andreas was a leader in agriculture for the State of California serving 33 years as a member of the California Dry Bean Advisory Board, where he held 11 different posts, and served 6 years as Chairman. He was the director of the Cal-Bean and Grain Cooperative, Inc., since 1973 and served 12 years as President participating in marketing exploration trips for the black eyed bean industry to the Pacific Rim in 1980 and Europe and the Mediterranean seaboard in 1982. Furthermore, he was the incorporating director of the Raisin Bargaining Association, President from 1974 to 1976 with continuous services as a director for 37 years, and a delegate to industry conferences in Sacramento, Washington, DC, and overseas. In recognition of his years of service to California Agriculture, the University of California at Davis recognized his accomplished with the Award of Distinction in 1995. Devout Christian, husband, father, and grandfather, Jim Andreas was always a loving example of honor and integrity. A true gentleman and patriot, citizen service was always his trademark stepping forward to serve the needs of others, and in so doing, he strengthened his family, his community, his state, and this nation. www.bakersfield.com/obits